Cot or stretcher.



R. S. FREEDMAN & H. H. GOTTSTEIN.

cor 0R smucnm.

APPLICATION-,FILED APR. I8. 19H.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

ETE S rafrn'r ernten.

ROBERT S. FREEDIVIAN AND HANS H. GOTTSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N'. Y.

COT 0R STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,852.

To aZZ whom zt may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT S. FREED- MAN, M. D., a citizen of theUnited States, and HANS H. Go'r'rs'rErN, formerly a subject of theEmperor of Germany, (but having taken out my first naturalization papersin the United States,) both residing in the city of New York, borough of`Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented acertain new and useful Cot or Stretcher, of which the following is aspeeication.

This invention is a cot or stretcher of the type wherein a tent orcanopy is provided to protect the occupant against the weather, heat ofthe sun, insects, etc. Cots or beds of this general character have beenheretofore suggested, but are open to many disadvantages, chief amongwhich is the fact that, in the majority of cases, the means associatedwith the cot or bed for supporting a canopy is of such complex orcomplicated nature as to render the structure unduly weighty. For themaximum comfort, as well as from the standpoint of maintaining thehealth of the occupant, it is desirable that the cot be provided withlegs for supporting the cot body free from the ground or othersupporting surface and, as cots and stretchers are only employed wherethe use of beds is not feasible because of the ditliculty intransporting the same, it is generally essential that the cotbecollapsible into compact form to allow of ready transportation fromplace to place.

This is particularly true in Army use where the devices must betransported by soldiers or in Army trains, which environment, alinementand compactness are salient requirements. Moreover, for Army use it isabsolutely essential that the construction of the cot or stretcher besuch that it may be readily assembled and dismantled with ease anddexterity, since, as well known. Army equipment is generally set up bybugle call or command, each private in the regiment having his ownparticular duties to perform, and each is generally' accomplishedsimultaneously with the remainder of the men of the regiment or command.Despatch is, therefore, essential and this the structures of the priorart will not allow of. It is true that camping beds have been suggested.both the legs and the canopy supports of which are collapsible to allowof the folding of the bed or cot into a comparatively small space, butthe contraptions generally employed for supporting the canopy are bulky,unhandy to manipulate, require considerable skill to properly set up,and under the most favorable conditions the setting up operationrequires considerable time. Other canopy covered cots or beds have beenused by campers at iixed camps which were not collapsible, but could betaken apart by unscrewing or unjointing portions of the cot. Suchconstructions, manifestly, require still greater time to assemble thanthe collapsible structures referred to and are totally unadapted forArmy use.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide a canopied cot or stretcherfor use in 'the Army, but all of these attempts have failed because ofthe fact that the devices were either too heavy or could not be extendedor compacted with suiiicient celerity.

Vith the foregoing disadvantages in mind, the object of the presentinvention is to provide a cot or stretcher which will fulfil Armyrequirements; that is to say, the provision of a cot which will belight, may be compaetly folded, will withstand the wear and tear of Armyuse, and one which may be expeditiously and easily compacted andextended.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparentfrom the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, we have illustrated one practicalembodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to beunderstood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of theinvention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a cot or stretcher embodying thepresent invention, the parts being shown in this View with the canopy inplace.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cot of Fig. 1 with the canopy removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of the plane of Fig. 2,and

Fig. 4L is a transverse sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A A designate the two side bars or rails ofthe cot or stretcher. These side rails support between them the usualsheet of fabric B, which may be secured at its opposite lateral edges inany suitable manner such as by passing said rails through heins formedalong said edges.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the same is shown asparticularly adapted for use as a stretcher, and for this reason theside rails are extended beyond the ends of the fabric B, and areprovided With handles by which the device may be readily transported inthe manner generally employed in carrying stretchers. If the structureis to be employed as a cot the extensions of the side rails, beyond theends of the fabric, may be omitted.

'Ihecot is provided With four legs C, and associated with each is acanopy supporting stanchion D, the legs nd stanchions being positionedat the four corners of the cot to support the side rails above theground and the canopy above the cot. In order that the cot may becollapsible in the most expeditious manner, thev legs C and thecorresponding stanchions D are so formed that the lower end of eachstanchion is connected with the upper end of the corresponding` leg. Thepreferred form of this connection is shown best in Fig. 4, wherein onestanchion is shown as integral at its lower end With the upper end ofthe corresponding leg.

In the preferred construction, the side rails are slotted, as at E, andthrough this slot extends a pivot plate d which may be either integralwith the stanchion and leg or secured thereto in any suitable manner. Ineither instance, one leg and stanchion are secured to the pivot plateout of alinement With one another; Portion el is piveted for oscillationwithin the slot E on a pin al. Vhen the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 4 With'tlie legand stanchion in substantially verticalpositions, said leg and stanchion will be out of alincment With oneanother and the extensions of their axes Will pass at opposite sides ofthe axis of oscillation ofthe portion (Z.

TheY slot E and portion Z are so relatively shaped that the oscillationof said portion on one direction, to bring the leg and stanchion invertical positions, will be arrested when the stanchion and leg aresubstantially vertical, c., when the parts are in the position shown inFig. 4. Portion Z and slot E may, if desired, be provided withcrmplementary shoulders o and e to strengthen the structure and sustain.a greater load When force, tending to oscillate the pivot plate (Zfarther than specified, is applied.

Moreover, the leg and stanchion are so associated with ther pivot platethat when said pivot plate is oscillated in the opposite direction, orthat to bring the leg and stanchionin upright positions, said leg andstanchion are simultaneously moved to horizontal positions, as shown indot and dash lines in Fig. 2, wherein both leg and stanchion extendlongitudinally oftheassociatcd side rail and occupy apositionimmediately adjacent thereto. The set up or operative positionof the parts is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, from Which it Will appearthat, when the stanchions and legs are in upright position, they are outof alinement, and no weight to which fabric B may be subjected canpossibly cause the legs or stanchions to foldinto the dot and dash linepositions. It is essential, however, to provide means for maintainingthe side railsin spaced relation so that the fabric B may support theWeight of a person, and this is accomplishedl by means of spacing rodsF, one of which extends across each end of the cot. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, vone end of one of the spacing rods F ishinged to one of the stanchions D, as at j', and is provided at itsopposite end with a depending finger f', adapted to enter a pcclet inthe upper' face of the opposite side rail. Positioned adjacent thepocket in the side rail is aspring pressed plunger g, the ends of whichare adapted to normally enter the depressions in the linger f', for thepurpose of locking the finger against removal from the pocket. Thisplunger g may, however, be manually retracted through the manipulationvof a handle g affixed thereto, for the purpose of releasing the fingerto permit of its Withdrawal from the pocket. l hen the fingered end ofthe spacing rods F are released, they are adapted to be folded into thedot and dash line position of Fig. 3, wherein they WillY lie paralleland in face abutting relation With the stanchions D, to which they arepivoted, so that when said stanchions are folded down upon the siderails the spacing rods F will be simultaneously shifted in a collapsedposition therewith.

Each stanchion is preferably provided, at its upper end, with a pin z'adapted to'be readily passed through a gromet, one of Which ispositioned at each of the-four corners of a canopy Il to be supported bythe four stanchions. The canopy maybe of any suitable material, eitherWaterproof orl net ting to protect the occupant from tlie Weather orinsects, as the case may be, and, if desired, may have a Celluloidv orother transparent insert, notshown.

From what has been said of the structure of this invention, itwillappear that, in setting up or assen'ibling the cot or stretcher, y

the bringing of thel stancliions into vertical position willsimultaneously bring the legs associated therewith into like positions,and, ,vhen the stanchions have been brought into the vertical position,the spacing rods F may be readily swung into horizontal'position tomaintain the side rails in spaced relation; In collapsing the cot theoperation is reversed, the spring pressed plungerg being` irst retractedto release the spacing rodsk F which are thereafter pivotally moved intojustaposition with the stanchions to which they are pivoted, and all ofjthe stanchions then folded in juxtaposition with the side rails.Thereafter the side rails are brought together or rolled within thefabric B. If desired, the whole may be rolled'within the canopy I aftersaid canopy has been previously folded to allow of this rollingoperation under the best conditions. 1f the canopy is of waterproofmaterial, it will serve as a cover to protect the parts of the cotagainst rain, when in collapsed position.

It will, of course, be understood that the fabric B may be provided atone end with a suitable pillow-flap, as is usual. Moreover, suitablestraps, not shown, may be supplied for binding the parts in collapsedposition. ln adapting the invention to its various environments, slightmodifications may be made from time to time. For example, the canopy isshown as having gromets at its four corners adapted to fit over pins z'at the upper end of the stanchions, after the same manner as the apex ofthe tent generally coperates with the tent poles. rlhe attachment of thecanopy to the stanchions, may, however, be slightly varied if desired,so that it will be secured in place by any well known means.Furthermore, the two stanchions at the foot end of the cot may, ifdesired, be made a little shorter than the two stanchions at the headend thereof, so that the canopy will more effectually shed rain fallingon the top thereof. These details of construction, however, will notmaterially affect the broad inventive thought of providing a lightcollapsible canopied cot or stretcher, simple in construction andadapted to be quickly collapsed or extended. The invention is,therefore, not to be understood as restricted to the structural detailsshown which are for the purpose of illustration only, the inventionbeing as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

From what has been said, it will appear that the present invention isparticularly applicable for Army use and especially in the Red Crossbranch of the Army. The wounded, during the battle, can be placedimmediately upon one of the cots or stretchers of this invention andwill lie thereon without touching the ground, and sutticiently high tolie comfortable, and at the same time being protected by the canopy fromthe sun, rain and insects, as occasion may require, until such time asthey can be transported, by motor ambulances or other-y wise, to thehospital base at the rear of the lines. ln times of battle it isfrequently hours after the soldiers are wounded before they can betransported to the rear, so that the stretcher or cot of this inventionforms a convenient hospital to give the wounded suthcient shelter fromthe elements and as much comfort as possible during this interveningperiod. The invention is, thus, very well adapted for this environment,and fills a long felt want which the structures of the prior art havebeen unable to lill because of their inchoate disadvantages hercinbeforcreferred to. The invention is not, however, restricted to Army usesince, it may be einployed with very good results by can'ipers or otherpersons desiring a light collapsible structure, and one which may bereadily and expeditiously collapsed or extended.

Having fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabricsecured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, means formaintaining the side rails in spaced relation, a plurality'of legspivotally secured to the side rails for supporting said side .railsabove the ground, a canopy, stanchions pivotally secured to the siderails for sup porting the canopy above the fabric, and connectionsbetween the legs and stanchions whereby the folding of the stanchionsinto collapsible position simultaneously causes the folding of the legsinto a like position.

2. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabricsecured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legspivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded intocollapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotallysecured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsedpositions, connections between each stanchion and the adjacent legwhereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positionssimultaneously causes a like folding of the legs, and means for spacingthe side rails apart.

3. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabricsecured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legspivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded intocollapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotallysecured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsedpositions, connections between each stanchion and the adjacent leg,whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positionssimultaneously causes a like folding of the legs. and a pair of spacingmembers, one of which is positioned adjacent to the opposite ends of thefabric for maintaining the side rails in spaced relation.

l. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabricsecured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legspivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded intocollapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotallysecured to each side rail and adapted t0 be folded into collapsedpositions, connections between each stanchion and the .adjacent leg,whereby the folding of the stanchion intoV collapsed` positionssimultaneously causes a lilre folding of the legs, and a pair of spacingrods, one end of each rod being pivotally secured to one of thestanchions and the free end of each rod being detachably secured to theopposite spacing member for the purpose of simultaneously maintainingthe side rails in spaced relation.

5. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabricsecured along its longitudinal edges to theV side rails, a pair of legspivotally secured to each side rail and .adapted to be folded intocollapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotallysecured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsedpositions, connections between each stanchion andthe adjacent leg,whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positionssimultaneously causes a like folding of the legs, and a pair of spacingrods,one end of each rod being pivotally secured to one of thestanchions and the free end of each rod being detachably secured to theopposite spacing member lfor the purpose of simultaneously maintainingthe side rails in spaced relation, the free ends of said rods beingdetachable from the associated side rail to allow of pivotal movement ofthe rods into juxtaposition on the stanchions on which they are pivoted,whereby the legs, stanchions, and spacing rodsmay be folded into compactrelation and the side rails rolled within the fabric.

6. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of pivoted legs, aplurality of pivoted canopy supporting stanchions, the stanchions andlegs being connected whereby the folding of either into collapsedposition will cause the other to be folded into a like position.

7. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of legs, a pivotedcanopyk supporting stanchion associated with each leg, each leg and itsassociated stanchion being mounted on a common pivot for simultaneouspivotal movement whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsedposition simultaneously causes the folding of the associated leg into alike position.

8. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of legs, a pluralityof pivoted canopy supporting stancliions, connections between the legsand the stanchions whereby the folding of the legs into collapsedposition causes the folding of the stanchions into a like position.

9. A. folding cot or stretcher embodying a weight supporting bodyportion, legs pivoted to the body portion, canopy supporting meanspivotally mounted on said body portion, the legs and canopy supportingmeans being operatively connected whereby the folding of the legs into acollapsed position causes a simultaneous folding ofthe canopy supportingmeans into a like position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification. v

RGBERT S. FREEDMAN, M. D. HANS H. GOTTSTElN.

@oplei o thin patent muy be obtained tor ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

